Fire-escape



(No Model.) I' l f W. C. WILLIAMS.

PIRE ESCAPE. N0. 596,198.4 l Patented D60. 28,1897.

www# w; @523% l g .IL 0N .I Cffg nrw@ i Mm JETTOJNEX proved tire-escape.

Ni'rnn STATES WILSON C. VILLIAMS, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,198, dated December28, 1897.

i Application filed April 12, 1897. Serial No. 631,678. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILSON C. VILLIAMS, of Utica, in the county ofOneida and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of thisspecification.

Figure l shows a sideelevation of my im- Fig. 2 shows parts ofthedevice, partially in section, in perspective. Fig. 3 shows one of theparts of which the body of the device is formed, also in perspective,without being in section in any part. Fig. 4 shows a section taken online A B of Fig. 5, showing the inner face view of the parts shown. Fig.5 shows a section taken ou a vertical central line, omitting thefriction-posts and bar in the lower end of the device. Fig. 6 shows asection of the completed device. Fig. 7 shows details of a sheave havingprojecting arms on one side. Fig. 8 shows the same as Fig. 7 on aquarter-turn from the position shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 shows a sideelevation yis of a vibrating detent employed in the construction. Fig.10 showsfa plan view of the same. Fig. 1l shows an end view.

Referring to the reference lett'ers and figures in a more particulardescription of the device, l and 2 indicate the two parts of the casingof the device. The upper portion of the casing part 2 is circular andprovided with an internal serpentine groove 3, formed between theannularprojections 3 and 3h( This annular groove 3 is adapted to receivethe projecting ends 4 4 of the vibrating detent 4.

The circular head portion of the device is adapted to receive the sheave5 with its projecting arms 5, which projecting arms are adapted toreceive the body portion of the detent 4. The'casing parts are heldtogether at their upper ends by a transverse bolt 6, Which passesthrough an openin g in the sheave 5 and through the opening 4b in thedetent 4. The opening 4b is rounded out at either side, as shown inFigs. 9 and lO, so as to allow the detent to vibrate freely in followingthe serpentine groove in the casing. The lowerpor- -tion ln of thecasing part 1 furnishes an out- .cross-bars 7a, three being shown in thedrawings. This friction device may be secured in position by rivet-likeprojections d on the ends of the cross-bar portions engaging inopenings, as b, in the walls of the casing, and these rivet portions maybe headed or not, as desired.

The rope or cord A employed in connection with the device is entwinedthrough the friction device, as shown, and passed around the sheave 5and out of the outlet portion of the device and through the frictiondevice again, a double rope or cord being employed.

The device is provided with a bail 8, which may consist of two partsformed on each part of the casing, as E5a and S", as shown.

`In use the device operates as follows: The escape is suitably securedby the bail or otherwise in any desired position for use, as to theoutside of a building or immediately inside of awindow of a building,where itwould be convenient for use. A person may then grasp one of thetwo parts of the cord or rope entering the device and throw his weightthereon, and as one part runs out the other runs in through the frictiondevice, consisting of the bar 7 and the cross-bars 8a, and thence aroundthe sheave and out again through the friction device and causes thesheave to revolve. The frictioncaused by the friction device issufficient to cause the cord or rope to bite sufficiently on the sheaveto cause it to revolve without Vany material slipping of the cord orrope. As the sheave 5 revolves it causes the vibrating detent 4 to movearound with it by reason of the arms 5a 5ainclosing the detent, asshown. The detent following the serpentine groove in theshell retardsthe movement of the sheave and thus regulates the speed with which therope will run out. The amount of weight or load on the rope does notmake any material difference, for the reason that the friction betweenthe inner sides of the arms 5a and the sides of the detent 4 increasesas the weight on the rope increases, and as it has to vibrate infollowing the serpentine groove under the influence of this friction thespeed is regulated without reference to the load.

In order to enable the detent Llto be introduced into the casing portion2, there is provided in the shell an opening fr, through which one ofthe projections i niay be temporarily projected, while the otherprojection fl of the detent is gotten into line with the serpentinegroove, when the detent is moved into its central position in thecircular portion of the casing, and a bolt prevents it from at othertimes becoming engaged with or projecting through the opening w.

It is is evident that changes and inodiiications in and from theconstruction as illustrated and described may be inade Without departingfrom the equivalents of my con struction.

1What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a re-escape device a casing having a serpentinel annular groove, avibrating detent running in the groove and a slieave having armsembracing the detent, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fire-escape device a casing having an annular serpentine grooveand an outlet,

scenes a vibrating detent ruiming in the groove, a sheave having armsreceiving the detent, substantially as set forth.

8. In a fire-escape device a easinghaving a crooked channel around itsinterior face, a sheave, a vibrating detent and means for connecting thesheave and detent, substantially as set forth.

4t. In a fire-escape device, the combination of a shell havin aserpentine annular groove and an outlet portion, a vibrating detent having projections engaging in the serpentine groove, a sheave having armsembracing the dctent and a friction device in the outlet portion of thecasing, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in a re-eseape device of a easing having a crookedgroove 3, a vibratin g detent a having projections engaging in thegroove, a sheave having projecting arms extending upon either side ofthedeent, and a rope friction device, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

VILSON C. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

l). ll. COLEYRONE, E. W. JONES.

